Carton



May 25, 1937. J. c. BENscHoTr-:R

CARTON Filed Sept. 10. 1955 I N VEN TOR. JAMES C- .BENBCHO TEE.

H/5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 25, 1937 l UNITED sTAfrEs oAnToN James C, Benschoter,Stockton, assignmto Flbrehoard Products Inc., San Francisco, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware Application September 10, 1935, Serial No.39,915

13 Claims.

Myinvention relatesv to a knock-down, ilbreboard carton, andparticularly to one designed for shipping fragile products such as eggs.

One of the objects of my invention is the pro'- vision of a light-weightcarton which may be readily knocked down and set up so as to permit thesame one to be usedniany times.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a carton which may beset up quickly without the use of machinery by the manual assembly ofsimple parts which form a ilat package before setting up.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a carton havingdouble walls which insure a greater degree of protection for thecontents, and which also increase the stability of the cartonso as topermit stacking without danger of crushing.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adoptvariant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shipping carton of my invention,portions being broken away toshow the arrangement of the interlockingparts.

Figure 2 is a. vertical transverse sectional view of the carton showingthe position of the parts in set-up form and with the cover closed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the arrangement of theparts at one end of the carton.

Broadly; my invention comprises a carton having a continuous ring orband which forms the 40 outer end and side walls, and in which twocrossed liner strips are arranged and inter# locked with the ring toprovide a carton in which the bottom, end and side walls are double.Means are also provided to hold the cover in closed posi- 45 tion; andsuitable grips are arranged in the outer end walls tofacilitatefhandling of the filled package. The carton is shipped to thepacker and may be stored until use in a iiat package requiring a minimumof space. After 5o the carton has been used for a shipment of goods orproduce it may readily be knocked down and returned to the packer forreuse. The knockdown of the carton involves only the separation of thethree interlocked parts; and the manu- 55 facture of the parts ready forassembly is correspondingly simple, since it involves nothing more thanthe cutting ci' three simple blanks, suitably creasing the blanks forfolding, and joining by staples or other desired means. opposite ends ofone of the blanks to form a four- 5 sidedrlng.

In greater detail the carton of my invention comprises a strip ofbreboard, provided with transverse creases dividing the strip intopanels which form the outer side Walls 2 and outer end lo walls 3. Thisstrip may comprise a single piece of fibreboard, or if the size of theparent sheet from which it is cut is not large enough it may be formedof two or more pieces permanently secured together.

I prefer to use a heavy solid flbreboard for the outer Walls because ofits greater strength, and because it presents an excellent surface forprinting. Opposite ends of the piece are connected in any suitablemanner such as by staples 20 l It, or by stitching, or byan adhesive, toform a continuous four-sided ring. y

The blank including the outer side and end walls, is also shaped toinclude an integral stub flange 5, extending from the lower edge of each25 end wall 3, and hinged thereto along the crease 6, which permits theflange to fold inwardly when the carton is set up. A similar stub flangeI is provided at the upper edge of each end wall 3: and is adapted tofold inwardly along the 30 crease 8 when the carton is in use. 'I'heseanges, 5 and 1, are relatively short and are the only projections whichbreak the otherwise simple rectangular outline of the blank.

Centrally disposed in the upper portion of each 35 end wall 3 is anelongated slot 9, having a wide tongue II formed along its upperboundary as shown to provide a grip lor handle which facilitates thehandling of the filled carton.

Disposed within the outer ring is a second strip of fibreboard,preferbaly of the double-faced corrugated type. 'I'his strip is alsoprovided with transverse creases which divide the strip into panelsforming the inner side walls I2, outer bottom wall I3, and the cover ortop I4. The strip is folded into a flat-bottom, U-shape piece; and isthen inserted into the outer ring preferably from the bottom, so thatthe stub flanges 5 are enclosed and lie on the inside and ilat againstthe inside of the bottom I 3, and the side walls I2 lie flat against andin registry with the side panels 2. This disposes the cover panel I4 inproper position. Extending from the upper edge of the panel I2, is aflap I6 adapted to fold inwardly along the crease I'I when the carton is55 A third strip or nbreboard, preferamy or the' same stock as thesecond strip, is provided with transverse creases to permit the strip tobe folded into a flat-bottom U-shape piece, which forms the two innerends 2l, and the inner bottom wall 22 of the carton.

When the carton is to be set up, the ring is opened from its collapsedposition so that the creases form four parallel corner folds and theadjacent sides are perpendicular to each other. The second strip is thenfolded into a U-shape piece and slipped through the outer ring from thebottom. As the bottom I3 of the second strip approaches the lower edgeof the end wall 3, the stub flanges 5 are pressed inwardly so that theupward movement of the bottom is arrested by contact with the lowersurface of the flanges. 'I'he walls I2 of the second strip now lie ushagainst and in registry with the outer side walls 2, providing a linertherefor. The third strip, also folded into a U-shape piece, is disposedwithin the other two strips with the bottom 22 crossing the outer bottomI3. The bottom 22 thus provides a liner for the bottom I3, and the endwalls 2 I lie ush against and in registry with the outer end walls 3 toprovide liners for them. It will also be noted that the bottom 22 bearsagainst the upper surface of the stub flanges 5 so that the stub flangesare interlocked between the two bottoms I3 and 22. f

After the packing of the carton has been completed the flanges 'l arefolded down across the upper edges of the walls 2|; and the flap I6folded inwardly over the ends of the flanges 'I. 'Ihe top I4" is thenclosed down and the tuckilap I8 inserted between the inner and outerwalls I2 and 2 respectively, to frictionally hold the top in closedposition.

It will be noted that the inturned stub flanges 5 and 1, which areintegral with the outer ring, lie between the adjacent portions of thetwo crossed pieces forming the bottom and the inner side and end walls;and that this engagement interlocks all three parts securely together,altho it is readily releasable to permit separation of the parts.

In the closed position of the carton the edge folds formed by thetransverse creases in each strip are parallel in the same strip, but lieat 90 to the folds in each of the other two strips. The arrangement ofthe three interlocked strips produces a double walled carton in whichthe longitudinal axis of each strip as to any given side. lies at 90 tothe longitudinal axis of the adjacent strip in that side. Viewed inanother way the carton may be considered as three strips, folded andnested together so that their respective longitudinal axes or medianlines define three planes intersecting at right-angles to each other.

If desired a central partition 26 is provided to prevent the layers ofcontained products in one end from sliding into the layers at the otherend. When eggs are packed, flats are inserted between the layers and atthe top and bottom of the carton in accordance with the customary methodof packing.

It will be noted that in the lled container, the weight of the contentsbearing. against the inner and outer bottom walls force them together sothat the stub flanges l at each end of the carton are clamped in asecure engagement. Because of this arrangement of the parts, the stubfiang are much shorter than would otherwise be possible. It is foundthat a flange having a width of 1%" to 2" is sumcient. It will beunderstood, that the width of this flange hss a direct relation to thewidth, 'and therefore the cost, of the blank out of which the ring isformed. Because of the inherent limitations in drawings, and the showingof the thickness of the material on a scale which is larger than thetrue one, .the position of the inner and outer walls are shown as theyare the first time the carton is set up. It will be obvious that whenfilled and subjected to pressure, the inner or liner walls will lieflatly against the outer walls so that the spaces between these walls asshown in the drawing, will be eliminated, except close to the separatingflap or flanges.

` A carton made in accordance with my invention is so strong and rigidthat it is especially suitable for shipping eggs. It is made upcomplete, in the factory; the single stitching or stapling operationbeing done there. After the contents have been removed from the carton,it may be disassembled by reversing the assembly step and theknocked-down pieces returned in a flat package to the shipper to be setup again, relled and shipped.

'Ihe carton is thus capable of long repeated use, and because of this,and of the ready replaceability of worn or damaged parts, either withnew parts or salvaged parts of other cartons, the per-shipment cost ofmy carton before it is finally worn out and discarded, is reduced almostto the vanishing point. Another factor contributing to this result isthe light weight of the carton, a size suitable for thirty dozen eggsweighing 4 lbs. less than a wooden crate of the same capacity. Stillanother cause of the unusual economy attending the use of my carton, isthe simplicity oi' its parts and manufacture, and the absence of specialtools or equipment for its assembly by the user.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, and flanges onthe ring interposed between the bottom walls.

2. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, flanges on thering interposed between the bottom walls, and a cover hinged on theupper edge of one of the crossed pieces, and on its free edge having atuck flap disposable between the side walls.

3. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, a cover hingedon the upper edge of one of the crossed pieces, and on its free edgehaving a tuck flap disposable between the side walls, and flanges on thering disposed between the bottom walls and under the cover.

4. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped vpieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, one of thecrossed pieces having an inturned flange on one of its upper edges and acover ap on the other upper edge, flanges on the ring disposed betweenthe bottom walls and under the' cover, and a tuck ap on the coverdisposable between the side walls and against the inturned flange.

5. A knock-down double walled carton comprising three strips of materialcreased to divide the strips into panels adapted to form the walls ofthe crate, one of said strips comprising four outer walls, the secondstrip comprising two outer and two inner walls, the third stripcomprisingthree inner walls and means on two of said outer wallsengaging said second and third strips to prevent disengagement of theparts when the carton is set up.

6. A carton comprising a ring forming oute side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, anges on thering interposed between the bottom walls, and a cover hinged on theupper edge of one of the crossed pieces.

7. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andproviding a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, flanges on thering interposed between the bottom walls, a cover hinged on the upperedge of one of the crossed pieces, and means for securing the cover inclosed position.

8. A carton comprising a ring forming outer side and end walls of thecarton, a pair of crossed U-shaped pieces disposed within the ring andprovidingm a double bottom and inner walls for the carton, flanges onthe ring interposed between the bottom walls, a cover for the carton,and means for securing the cover in closed position.

9. A carton comprising three members folded to form wall panels andnested together, two of the members being rectangular strips and theother member being a closed ring, and stub flanges on the ring memberfor interlocking the assembled strip members.

10. A double walled carton comprising a strip of solid berboard creasedand folded to form a continuous band comprising the four outer side andend Walls of the carton; a second strip of corrugated board creased andfolded to nest within the first strip and comprising the outer top andbottom and the inner side walls of the carton; a third strip ofcorrugated board creased and folded to nest within the other two stripsand comprising the inner bottom and inner two end walls and stub angeson said solid fiberboard strip for interlocking with said second andthird strips to prevent disengagement of the parts when the carton isset up.

11. A double walled carton comprising a strip of solid berboard creasedand folded to form a. continuous band comprising the four outer side andend walls of the carton, an inwardly extending flange on each edge ofthe two outer end walls; a second strip of corrugated board creased andfolded to interlock with said flanges of the vfirst strip and comprisingthe outer top and bottom and the inner side walls of the carton; and athird strip of corrugated board creased and folded to lie within theother two strips in engagement with said flanges and comprising theinner bottom and inner two end walls.

12. A double walled carton comprising a strip of solid berboard creasedand folded to form a continuous band comprising the four outer side andend walls of thecarton, an inwardly extending flange on each edge of thetwo outer end walls; a secon-d strip of corrugated b'oard creased andfolded to interlock with the flanges on the lower edges of the end Wallsof the first strip and comprising the outer top and bottom and two innerside walls of the carton, one end of said strip forming the front innerside wall, and the other end forming the cover for the crate, a iiap onthe side wall end of the strip adapted to o'verlie the fianges on theupper edges of the end walls, a tuck-in nap on the edge of the coveradapted to slip between the outer and inner side Walls to hold the topin closed position; and a third strip of corrugated board creased andfolded to lie within the other two strips and comprising the innerbottom and inner two end walls.

13. A double walled carton comprising a strip of solid fiberboardcreased and folded to form a continuous band comprising the four outerside and end 'wallsof the carton, an inwardly extending flange on eachedge of the two outer end walls; a second strip of corrugated boardcreased and folded to interlock with the iianges on the lower edges ofthe end walls of the first strip and comprising the outer top and bottomand two inner side walls of the carton, one end of said strip formingthe front inner side wall, and the other end forming the cover for thecrate, a flap on the side wall end of the strip adapted to overlie theflanges on the upper edges of the end walls, a tuck-in flap on the edgeof the cover adapted to slip between the outer and inner side walls tohold the top in closed position; and a third strip of corrugated boardcreased and folded to lie within the other two strips and comprising theinner bottom and inner two end walls, the two end edges of said thirdstrip ybearing against the inturned flanges on =the upper edge of theend walls to secure the third strip in position.

JAMES c. BENSCHOTER.

